Car Hire
in CBX

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car hire brands operating at CBX, giving you exclusive access to our All Inclusive+ rate. This rate includes benefits that no other company can match:

• Free liability coverage starting at US$ 300,000 in case of an accident (applies only to certain rates and itineraries)
• Toll cashback: recover up to 5% of the reservation's total value for toll charges incurred during your hire period
• Premium travel medical assistance providing up to US$ 150,000 in coverage for a maximum of 5 passengers in case of a medical emergency, excluding pre-existing conditions
• No Extra Charges© guarantee: if the counter charges you for something not listed on your confirmation and not an optional add-on you accepted, Hola Car Rentals will work to remove or reimburse the charge after verification

All of this comes at no extra cost, ensuring a fully protected car hire experience and peace of mind throughout your trip at CBX.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking at CBX are clearly shown at the time of reservation and in your confirmation email, so you know exactly what you are paying before you arrive at the counter.

On top of that, every Hola Car Rentals booking includes the No Extra Charges© guarantee. This is a pricing guarantee (not insurance) that protects you if the counter at CBX charges you for something that was not listed on your confirmation and was not an optional add-on you accepted. If that happens, Hola Car Rentals will work with the hire partner to remove or reimburse the charge after verification.

The only costs outside this guarantee are:

• Optional add-ons you choose at the counter (GPS, child seats, prepaid fuel)
• Usage-based charges (tolls, fuel shortfall, traffic fines)

At CBX, hire car counters are located inside the Arrival Terminal at 2745 Otay Pacific Dr, San Diego, CA 92154. After crossing the skywalk from Tijuana Airport and clearing U.S. customs, you walk directly into the main arrivals hall where brands such as Budget, Avis, Hertz, and Sixt have their counters.

Once you complete paperwork at the CBX counter, your vehicle is parked immediately outside the terminal, so there is no shuttle or consolidated hire centre to reach. The entire process from customs to driving away typically takes 15 to 45 minutes, and the layout is designed for efficiency with luggage and strollers.

If you are arriving by taxi or being dropped off on the U.S. side, you can enter the public terminal area and walk directly to the counters without needing a bridge ticket.

Counter hours at CBX vary by brand. Budget operates Sunday through Saturday from 6:00 AM to midnight, with reduced hours on certain holidays such as Easter and Memorial Day (7:00 AM to 12:00 PM). Mex Rent A Car operates Monday through Sunday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM.

If you are arriving outside operating hours at CBX, a key drop is available inside the terminal for vehicle returns. For pickups, it is important to confirm whether your chosen brand offers after-hours service before booking, as not all counters at CBX support it.

Flight delays of less than 24 hours from your original pickup time are generally accommodated, as hire companies will hold your reservation. If your delay exceeds 24 hours, contact support as soon as possible to avoid losing your booking.

To pick up a hire car at CBX, you will need to present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid driver’s licence in the main driver’s name (original, not a digital copy)
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the authorisation hold
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting from abroad

If your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory at CBX and must be carried alongside your original licence. For licences in other non-English scripts, an IDP is strongly recommended.

Some providers at CBX, such as Mex Rent A Car, may require additional documentation for local residents, including two forms of ID, proof of insurance, and a utility bill matching your licence address. Always review your booking confirmation for any partner-specific requirements.

Yes, toll roads exist in Southern California, though the area immediately around CBX in San Diego has very limited toll exposure. The main toll facilities in the region are found in Orange County (SR-73, SR-133, SR-241, SR-261) and on certain Express Lanes in Los Angeles (I-10, I-110, and others).

All toll roads in California use the FasTrak electronic system and are fully cashless. There are no cash toll booths. Your hire vehicle at CBX will include an electronic toll device or a plate-based billing system.

At the CBX counter you have two options:

• Unlimited toll package: approximately US$11 to US$25 per hire day, covering all toll usage during your hire
• Pay per use: actual toll amounts plus daily or administrative processing fees billed after the hire, sometimes weeks later

If you plan to avoid toll roads entirely from CBX, most major highways in the San Diego area are free. Express lanes are optional, and using regular lanes on routes like I-5 or I-905 from CBX incurs no toll charges.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your CBX hire, but the extra driver must be present at the counter at the time of pickup with a valid driver’s licence and photo ID.

Whether a fee applies depends on your rate. Some Hola Car Rentals rates include one additional driver at no extra cost. If your rate does not include it, the daily fees at CBX vary by partner:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per hire day plus taxes, capped at US$65 plus taxes
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per hire day plus taxes, capped at US$189 plus taxes
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day plus taxes

At CBX, drivers aged 21 to 24 may also be subject to a young driver surcharge of approximately US$19.99 per day plus taxes, in addition to any additional driver fee. For Avis, Budget, and Payless, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old at pickup.

Check your booking confirmation before arriving at CBX to confirm whether your rate includes an additional driver.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 are subject to a young driver surcharge at CBX. The typical surcharge is approximately US$19.99 per day plus taxes, applied in addition to the base hire rate.

The minimum age to hire at CBX without a surcharge is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire but face both the daily surcharge and restrictions on vehicle class. Categories such as Full Size, SUV, Minivan, Convertible, Luxury, and Premium are generally restricted to renters aged 25 and older at CBX.

If you are between 21 and 24, the vehicle classes most likely available to you at CBX are Economy, Compact, Intermediate, and Compact SUV. Always confirm class availability for your age group when booking.

One exception applies: if you are a citizen or resident of Latin America or the Caribbean and your CBX booking is fulfilled by Avis or Budget, the young driver surcharge may be waived for the main driver when the waiver is explicitly shown on your booking confirmation.

Yes, one-way hires are available at CBX, but a drop-off fee typically applies when you return the vehicle to a location different from where you picked it up.

The drop-off fee at CBX varies by hire partner, the return city or airport, the vehicle class, and the season. This fee is not prepaid and will appear under the "To pay at destination" section of your booking confirmation if it applies to your route.

For cross-border returns involving Mexican-plated vehicles, additional waivers such as a Loss Damage Waiver may be required. Standard U.S.-plated hires from CBX are not intended for driving into Mexico, so confirm any cross-border restrictions with the partner at the counter.

If you need to change your drop-off location after booking your CBX hire, contact support before your pickup date, as mid-hire route changes must be approved by the partner and may increase the fee or affect availability.

All Hola Car Rentals bookings, including those picked up at CBX, include Tolls Cashback: you can get up to 5% of your total booking value back for tolls paid during your hire.

While the San Diego area around CBX has minimal toll exposure, you may encounter tolls if you drive towards Orange County (SR-73, SR-241, SR-261, SR-133) or use Express Lanes in the Los Angeles area. All of these use the FasTrak cashless system, and charges are billed through your hire's toll programme or directly to your card.

To claim your Tolls Cashback after returning your CBX hire:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of vehicle return
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - HOLA followed by your confirmation number
• Attach your booking confirmation, signed hire agreement, and a toll invoice or statement showing charges paid

The refund is issued to the same payment method used for your CBX booking and typically processes within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted.

No, standard U.S.-plated hire cars picked up at CBX are not authorised for cross-border driving into Mexico. The hire agreement is governed by U.S. terms, and driving into Mexico with a standard CBX hire would typically void your cover, including CDW/LDW and any liability protection.

CBX is a unique facility: it connects the U.S. side at 2745 Otay Pacific Dr in San Diego to Tijuana Airport via a pedestrian skywalk, but the hire vehicles themselves are U.S.-based and subject to U.S. hire restrictions.

If you need a vehicle that can cross into Mexico, ask the CBX counter about Mexican-plated vehicle options from providers such as Mex Rent A Car, which operates on-site. These vehicles may require additional waivers such as a Loss Damage Waiver for cross-border use.

Always confirm cross-border permissions and required insurance with the specific partner at the CBX counter before attempting to drive across the border.

At CBX, the hire partner will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card at pickup. For standard vehicles in the United States, this hold is typically between US$300 and US$400, though the exact amount varies by brand, vehicle class, and season.

The hold is not a charge. It reduces your available credit temporarily and is released after you return the vehicle. Your bank controls how quickly the hold disappears, and it can take up to 15 business days to reflect on your statement.

To avoid issues at the CBX counter:

• Bring a physical major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit
• Ensure your card has sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges
• Notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent fraud blocks on in-person authorisations

Even if you prepaid your CBX booking online, you must still present a physical credit card at the counter for the security hold.

CBX hires use a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid fuel charges.

At pickup at the CBX terminal, check the fuel gauge with the agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on your hire agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and gauge before leaving the lot.

When returning your vehicle to CBX, refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location at 2745 Otay Pacific Dr so the gauge does not drop below full before you arrive. Keep your final fuel receipt as proof.

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level, the partner may charge:

• A fuel shortfall at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices
• A refuelling service fee for the administrative handling

For after-hours returns at CBX, leave your fuel receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as documentation.

Most Hola Car Rentals bookings, including those at CBX, include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection. This benefit is designed to support you during unexpected situations while travelling, such as a medical emergency on a California highway or a flight cancellation affecting your CBX pickup.

Coverage typically includes:

• Travel insurance with medical cover for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in case of a road accident
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

To use the assistance during your CBX hire, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free). You can also reach them via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001 or by email at [email protected]. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this travel assistance benefit does not apply to U.S. or Canadian residents. It is available to travellers from other countries visiting CBX and the surrounding region. It also does not cover damage to the hire vehicle itself, which is handled separately by CDW/LDW.

Yes, after-hours returns are possible at CBX. The hire car lot is located directly outside the Arrival Terminal at 2745 Otay Pacific Dr, and a key drop is available inside the terminal for returns outside counter operating hours.

To complete an after-hours return at CBX smoothly:

• Follow the Hire Car Return signs to the dedicated return roadway, which is separate from the main terminal curbs
• Park in the designated return area outside the CBX Arrival Terminal
• Note the vehicle's fuel level and mileage, and take a photo of the dashboard as documentation
• Place your keys and fuel receipt in the key drop envelope inside the terminal
• Keep a photo of the full fuel gauge and the completed envelope as proof

Be aware that liability for the vehicle may remain with you until the partner formally checks it in during business hours. If any damage is noted at check-in after your CBX after-hours drop, having timestamped photos of the vehicle condition at return will help resolve any disputes.

Counter hours at CBX vary by brand, so confirm your specific partner's key drop procedure in your booking confirmation before returning the vehicle.